Viral Videos

Give Orang-utans A Break

This week in my Public Relations class, my group was assigned a project to make a viral video. When thinking about viral videos the first thing that comes to mind is YouTube and the hilarious videos that have come from it. People like Chris Crocker have actually become famous for making a video blog of silly videos. Although the famous videos such as 'Muffins', 'Shoes' and 'Charlie bit my finger' have made many of us laugh several times; I learned this week that viral video's are not only used for our entertainment, but also to draw attention to a social cause. Organizations have been using the Internet and viral videos to create awareness without spending as much money as needed for a commercial. Viral videos are a very easy way to spread the word. Once someone has seen it and shows it to a few friends, maybe links to it on their Facebook, the message has already reached at least 20 people. And just like that, the video becomes viral.

Greenpeace has made several videos doing just that. Currently they have made a video about the manufacturing of Kit Kat's and how it is endangering the rain forest. According to Greenpeace, Nestle uses palm oil from companies that have been "trashing" rain forests in and threatening the extinction of orang-utans and resources of the locals. Initially the video was put on YouTube, but since the video had so many viewings it was taken Nestle demanded it be taken off. However, the video is still available on the Greenpeace website

CHECK IT OUT!!